On Sunday, September 13, 2026, the historic Old Silk Road will once again host Challenge Samarkand, organised by Challenge Family. The event features an international field including defending champions Will Draper and Sara Pérez Sala, alongside world distance record holder Sam Laidlow.
Challenge Samarkand has a history of attracting high-profile triathletes to Uzbekistan, with previous start lists featuring athletes such as Kristian Blummenfelt, Gustav Iden, Rico Bogen, and Frederic Funk. Laidlow, who recently won DATEV Challenge Roth in the fastest time ever recorded over 226km, views the event as a bucket-list race and a final form test before Kona.
Draper returns to defend his title on the flat and fast 113km course, joined by fellow Brits Cameron Main and Jack Hutchens. The men’s field also features Ognjen Stojanović, Florian Angert, Rostislav Pevtsov, and Henri Schoeman, fresh from a win in the Philippines, with four men sitting within the top 100 of the PTO world ranking.
In the women’s race, defending champion Pérez Sala enters as the favourite, holding the highest ranking at world number 16. The women’s start list features 11 athletes ranked within the top 100 globally, including Australian Natalie van Coevorden, New Zealander Nicole van der Kaay, Daisy Davies, Marta Lagownik, Megan McDonald, Austrian Anna Pabinger, Australian Milan Agnew, Lilli Gelmini, and Brooke Gillies.
The 113km course takes athletes through the ancient city, combining fast racing sections with views of Samarkand’s architectural landmarks along the Silk Road.
Taking place across September 12-13, 2026, the weekend includes sprint and relay options, a women’s run, and children’s events.
A free live broadcast of the race with English commentary by Belinda Granger will be available at www.challenge-family.live from 07:00 local time on Sunday, September 13, 2026.
